Founding Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit bassist Jimbo Hart has announced he is no longer a part of the band. Hart revealed his departure on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday following a prolonged touring absence.
I’m no longer a member of the 400 Unit.
I’m grateful for all the years, all the faces I’ve played for in the course of the band’s history and proud of all we accomplished. I’m happy to be moving forward into a new chapter of life and open to all possibilities, as they may arise.— Jimbo Hart (@JimboHart) November 27, 2023
Hart and Isbell have known each other since childhood, growing up together in Alabama. After Isbell split with Drive-By Truckers and released his solo debut Sirens of the Ditch Jason assembled the 400 Unit backing band. The group, named after the psychiatric ward of a hospital in Florence, AL, featured Hart alongside another of Isbell’s childhood friends Chad Gamble on drums along with other musicians from Muscle Shoals.
Isbell and the 400 Unit released an eponymous debut together in 2009, with five more to follow over the proceeding decade and a half including the group’s new gold standard Weathervanes released last year. Just before the band hit the road to promote Weathervanes back in June, Hart announced that he would not join them as he stayed behind to focus on his mental health—replaced onstage by Anna Butterss. Over the following months, Hart stayed active on social media as he updated fans on his journey through rehab and overcoming childhood trauma. Just last week he shared, “6 months, today! No weed and not a single thought of doing harm to myself since I put it down. Amazing how changing things really changes things.”
While Hart did not join the 400 Unit on the road for the Weathervanes tour, his playing is heard throughout the album. Along with the rest of the band, he is up for three Grammy Awards for his work on the double LP including Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song, and Best Americana Performance. He also played on country singer-songwriter Morgan Wade‘s explosive new sophomore album Psychopath.
Revisit Live For Live Music‘s review of Weathervanes here.
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